VICTA - the 1955 Year - Part One
1955 would be the make-or-break year for Victa. There was no turning back now.

For me, this is a significant year for Victa in the 1950s; simply because this was the year
where Merv Richardson would commit to a whole new level of Victa design, distribution,
and marketing.

One man could not do this alone. Merv was not an island unto himself. He knew this.
He had an idea ...

It was a bold decision for a relatively small company to produce The Victa Model 1.
The heart and soul of Victas would be the home-grown Victa 125cc 2-stroke, brought
about by necessity.

[Linked Image]

Whatever the situation abroad, Villiers (Australia) missed the opportunity of that century to
adequately supply Victa with engines for the Rotomo. Victa was being starved - to the point
where Merv Richardson made the decision in 1954 to build his own powerplant.

It was the point of no-return for a middle-age man who had a great idea: An Australian power
rotary lawnmower of simple design that, for the first time, became available to the working
man at an affordable price.

An interesting point for the record is made now. From the introduction of Victa's engine,
Merv Richardson intended that the 125cc engine had a broader audience than the Victa
lawnmower. Note the highlighted bit I have made below!

I guess this explains the "Tiger" and the Victa engine appearing on other
1950's lawnmowers.

[Linked Image]

In 1955 Merv appointed his first Sales Manager, John Mason. It is Mason's self-published
reflection of the earliest days - that remains our most important insight of the early years ...

Mason explains the development of the 125cc Victa engine here ...